Overview of Pockels Cells

The Pockels cell is one of the most important optical components in laser systems, from a simple laser shutter to intensifying the output power density of lasers. The most common crystals for this Electro-optical application are DKDP, BBO, LiNbO3 and LiTaO3. United Crystals provides various electro-optic devices to meet our customer’s different needs.

In addition to BBO's excellent non-linear optical properties, it is an exceptional EO material as well, especially for high power systems.
Unlike the general DKDP Pockels cells, BBO Pockels cells work in the transverse mode, which means the actual half (or quarter)-wave voltage can be designed by changing the ratio of the aperture to the length. BBO Pockels cells can work in the systems with a high repetition rate. For more details of BBO cells, please click here.

LiTaO3, LiNbO3 and MgO:LiNbO3 crystals are not hygroscopic, and they can be used in low power systems. Their cells can be very small, and
suitable for many compact systems. Like BBO, LiNbO3 cells also work in the transverse mode. Please click here for more details.

In addtion to the above active Pockels cells, which need a dedicated Pockels Cell Driver, there is another kind of Q-switch, the passive Q-
switch. Cr(4+):YAG is the best for various 1064nm laser systems. click here for more details.

In order to choose the right Pockels cells, the following factors should be considered:

1. What is the power density you want the cell to handle?

2. What is the repetition rate?

3. What is the beam size?

4. What is the desirable half (or quarter)-wave voltage?

For more information, please feel free to contact the United Crystals'
technical support team.